Labour are backing a cross-party bid to ensure the UK cannot leave the EU without a deal.

Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said the amendment to 11 December’s Commons vote on the PM’s Brexit deal had his “full support”.

If MPs back the amendment it will not be binding but Theresa May would find it difficult to ignore.

And it could put Parliament in the driving seat if, as expected, MPs vote down the PM’s Brexit deal.

Mrs May has repeatedly warned MPs that the only alternative to her Brexit deal is quitting the EU without a deal on 29 March.

The vast majority of Labour MPs are expected to vote against the deal on 11 December. However, a source has told the BBC there is a “growing consensus” among all MPs against a “no-deal” Brexit.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told ITV’s This Morning on Thursday that “nobody is going to allow no deal”.

The amendment, tabled by Labour backbencher and chairman of the Brexit select committee, Hilary Benn, is understood to have support from Conservative, Labour, SNP, Liberal Democrat, Plaid Cymru and Green politicians.

Labour MP Yvette Cooper said the amendment would allow MPs to “properly debate and vote on the next steps, rather than just leaving it all” to the prime minister.

The BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg says it supports what “some in Number 10 suspect – that is vote falls, Parliament essentially takes over from the executive”.

Former Labour foreign secretary Jack Straw described the amendment as “a staging post” on the way to a further referendum.

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Mr Straw, who was one of the Labour more Eurosceptic voices, says he believes there would be “a huge appetite” for a public vote.

Up to six amendments will be voted on when MPs pass judgement on the prime minister’s Brexit deal on 11 December.

Image copyrightPAImage caption Sir Keir Starmer says he will back the amendment

Labour’s front bench has tabled an amendment saying that the party cannot support the agreement, as it fails to provide for a customs union and “strong single market” deal. It also says it opposes a no deal withdrawal, and “resolves to pursue every option” that prevents such a scenario.

There is also likely to be a front bench amendment from the SNP. Some in Parliament think they are unlikely to pass but they hope a cross-party effort will be seen as less partisan and will have more chance of achieving a majority.

The amendments will be selected by Commons Speaker John Bercow, on 11 December – the last of five days of debate on the Brexit agreement.